LAS CRUCES, N.M. -- It was Independence Day weekend at the Southern New Mexico Speedway and it was dynamite! The USRA Stock Cars and USRA B-Mods put on a show for a jam-packed grandstand. The energy at the speedway was on fire, especially during the famous fireworks show put on by Mesilla Valley Transportation.

Tearing up the track next after the fireworks were the USRA Stock Cars. A couple cars got loose in turn two bringing on a complete restart. With everyone back in place they took off with Jeffery Maag pulling ahead early on.

With 17 laps to go, Jon McDaniel and Jason Ziehl passed Maag, but a caution allowed Maag to stay in second with McDaniel holding on to the leader’s spot. With the green McDaniel was off like a rocket leaving everyone in his tracks, and Maag fell back into the pack. Lasiter moved up in position snagging up the second spot before another yellow brought McDaniel and Lasiter back nose to tail.

McDaniel didn’t want to give Lasiter a chance to pass him pulling ahead yet again. The battle then began between Lasiter and Ziehl for the second position. Lasiter had it until there were four laps to go and Ziehl passed him. With three laps left to go a caution is called on Rudy Munoz just as Ziehl was making his way around McDaniel. With the green flag waiving again McDaniel regained his lead and made his way to to the checkered flag.

The final main of the night was the show stopping USRA B-Mods that went four-wide to celebrate the Independence Day weekend. At the start the racers got excited and had the fourth and fifth complete restart of the night. The second restart was caused when multiple cars piled up going into turn four. Once they got the wreckage cleared off the track it was game on as Fito Gallardo shoved his way in front of Royal Jones for the lead.

Jones was riding Gallardo’s bumper until Gallardo laid down on the gas and put some distance between them. With 12 laps left to go Rick Gallardo stalled in turn two and brought Fito Gallardo and Jones back together. Fito Gallardo maintained his lead but another caution as Duane Murphy spun out and slammed into the front straight away fence. After this start, Jacob Gallardo came from behind and stole the second place spot from Jones.

Jones started falling to the back of the pack and then pulled off into the infield. Now there was no stopping Fito Gallardo from securing his win and taking the trophy for the night.

Next Saturday night you will not want to miss the return of the ASCS Winged Sprint Cars, USRA Stock Cars, USRA B-Mods and Super Trucks. See you at the races!